Changes

{{Cquote|Most runners have experienced race-day jitters. You spend months training, building confidence and fitness, and then as you get closer to the race—boom, the excited butterflies have turned into crippling competition anxiety.

{{Cquote|Most runners have experienced race-day jitters. You spend months training, building confidence and fitness, and then as you get closer to the race—boom, the excited butterflies have turned into crippling competition anxiety.

It’s completely normal, says sports psychologist Stephen Gonzalez, Ph.D., assistant athletics director for leadership and mental performance at Dartmouth College. Your natural fight-or-flight instincts kick in when you’re anticipating the start.

It’s completely normal, says sports psychologist [[Stephen P. Gonzalez|Stephen Gonzalez]], Ph.D., assistant athletics director for leadership and mental performance at Dartmouth College. Your natural fight-or-flight instincts kick in when you’re anticipating the start.

According to Gonzalez, anxiety comes from the unknown: “Prior to a competition, we have an idea of what we might be able to do, but it's still uncertain—because you have to show up and still be able to do it.”

According to Gonzalez, anxiety comes from the unknown: “Prior to a competition, we have an idea of what we might be able to do, but it's still uncertain—because you have to show up and still be able to do it.”